Gas Appliances

Thinking about gas home appliances might be a good option to save money at the same time as seeing gains in comfort, convenience and efficiency.

Gas abundant in the United States meaning that prices per unit are low and stable, and natural gas is considered to be the least polluting non-renewable energy source, consequently, it can be viewed as the greener alternative.

If you already have a gas line in your house, or are buying a new home you may wish to consider the probable benefits of switching to natural gas and natural gas household appliances instead of electrical appliances in your home.

Read more about gas appliances below from PDQ Cicero Appliance Repair:

What are Natural Gas Home Appliances?

A natural gas device runs on gas as the primary power source. Gas home appliances are a practicable alternative to electrical appliances.

In most instances gas devices nevertheless require an electricity supply but use gas as the major fuel. The amount of electricity needed will vary from appliance to appliance. For example, a natural gas boiler will work even during a power cut, whereas a natural gas tumble dryer still needs electricity to make the drum turn.

A List of Home Appliances That use Gas

Gas is about more than heating:

Proving Heat

Providing heat with natural gas is typically less expensive than providing heat with electricity. The reduction can be as much as 50% subject to your energy prices and efficiency.

Gas provides higher air temperatures and offers better reliability.This is due to gas lines being less exposed to the elements than power lines.

Fireplaces

Aside from keeping your home warm natural gas is great for having a fire in your home.Forget the hassle of having to collect or buy logs or clean out the ashes. With a natural gas fireplace, you still get real flames and plenty of warmth without the fuss.

Air Conditioning

Gas air conditioners can be an effective method to keep your home cool.

Gas fueled air conditioning requires a bigger initial investment but is more cost effective on an ongoing basis meaning cost savings in the long term. Higher effectiveness also has a positive impact on your carbon footprint.

Water Heaters

Natural gas water boilers come in two main designs, tank heaters and non-tank or on-demand heaters. Gas heaters are quicker and more fuel efficient than electric water boilers. Tankless heaters also offer a continuous supply. Handy if you have a big family that indulges in long showers.

The fact that gas lines are almost always dug into the ground and guarded from the weather means you can still have hot water even when you don’t have electricity.

Cooking

Most people have encountered the phrase “cooking with gas”. A great commercial line conceived to link natural gas to effectiveness and efficiency.

Regardless of the etiology the phrase is used today because it is true. The majority of chefs choose natural gas for the fact that they can control the heat, and natural gas ranges provide a less wasteful way of converting fuel into heat.

Dryers

You may not immediately think of using gas to dry your clothes, however, natural gas tumble dryers can be an excellent choice. Gas Dryers operate a few degrees hotter thus drying clothes in a shorter time and clothes have to endure less tumbling.

Outdoor Living

You have to restrict your gas use to indoor appliances. When it comes to outdoor entertaining, natural gas is a popular choice for patio lights and food prep and even to heat your spa.

Impress your guests as soon as they arrive with driveway lighting, keep them toasty on cool evenings and get a meal prepared outside at the perfect temperature, whenever you are ready, and without the need to remember to fill up your gas bottles.

Just like indoor water heaters a pool or spa heater will heat the water twice as quickly as an electric equivalent. And natural gas patio heaters set the mood as well as providing comfort for perfect indoor-outdoor entertaining.

Advantages of Natural Gas Home Appliances

As with anything there are pros and cons to natural gas devices. First up the pros.

Choosing gas will cut your utility bills.
Gas home appliances tend to be more efficient making them better for your wallet and for the planet.
Gas is an eco-friendly option as it is viewed as the cleanest of the fossil fuels, with emissions of around 27% less carbon dioxide than oil and 45% less carbon dioxide than coal.
Natural gas lines are generally run underground making supply more reliable. This means you can still cook even if there’s no electricity supply.At worst you might need to find a match.

Cons of Natural Gas Appliances

Gas appliances usually require a higher initial investment. Both the price of the appliance and the associated installation costs are likely to be higher for a gas appliance when comparing to electrical alternatives.
Installing a new gas line if you don’t already have one can be costly. The price will vary depending on a number of factors.
Moving or extending a natural gas line can also cost a considerable amount so this should always be included in any price analysis.
Safety comes first and carbon monoxide can be an issue if gas appliances are not installed correctly or regularly maintained. making sure you have a carbon monoxide alarm is a must is you use gas in your home.

Is a Gas Appliance Right for You?

Making the decision between natural gas and electricity is not easy and the best choice for you probably won’t be the right decision for everyone.

Currently gas is almost always less expensive than electricity, so if the cost is your main motivation this can be a big part of the decision-making process. However, while studies show that three-quarters of new home buyers are choosing to have gas, converting to gas is expensive. Thus, finding out how much a new gas line would cost if you don’t already have one is a good first step.

Another reason to choose gas is that you are less likely to get interruptions in supply. If power failures are common where you live then having appliances that continue to work during outages can be a big plus.

Finally, in environmental terms, while natural gas home appliances are generally more efficient you can’t switch them to renewable sources like you can electrical appliances. Installing renewable energy could be a better investment and more eco-friendly options in the long run.